Ditcher and grader.



G. W. JORY.

DITCHER AND GRADER. APPLlcATlpN FILED APR. 9. 19M.

Patented Ju1y 13, 1915.

Wfl

WlTN ESSES ATTORNEY.

G. W. JOEY.

DITCHER AND GRADER.

APPLICATION FILED APILa. 1913.

Patented July 13, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3- WITNESS ATTORNEY.

G. W. JORY.

DITCHER AND GRADER.

APPLICATION FILED APR.9. 1913.

1,146,261 Patented'July 13, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

INVENTOR7 ATTORN EY COLUMBIA PLANOURAPH (10 WASHINGToN. D. cA

GEORGE WASHINGTON JOB/Y, 0F MARYSVILLE, CALIFORNIA.

DITGIIER AND GRADER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

rarement .nay 13,1915.

Application filed April 9, 1913. Serial N0. 760,006.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, GEORGE W. Joni', a citizenof the United States, residing at Marysville, in the county 0f Yuba andState of California, have invented a new and useful Ditcher and Grader,of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to improven ments in machines for ditchingand grading, loading vehicles and the like, and its object is to providea machine which by progressive movement along the surface of the groundmay be caused to either excavate a ditch in the ground or to remove asmall depth of earth for grading purposes, the removed earth in eithercase being deposited in a series of buckets mounted on the machine torotate on an axis at anangle to the vertical, whereby one edge of thelbucket series is brought into contact with the ground while the oppositeedge is elevated. A machine of such character is shown and described inLetters Patent No. 1,028 ,7 34, granted to me on June 4, 1912, forimprovements in ditchers and graders, and the present invention has todo with certain features of such a machine whereby certainimprovedresults are obtained.

The present invention has to do with a construction whereby the machinemay be employed on inclines either already existing or due t0 theprevious action of the machine, without tilting certain parts whichadvantageously remain upright.

rIhe invention has also to do with improved means for applying the draftto the machine and moving the same in curved paths; with means foradjusting the supporting wheels of the' machine; to an improved bucketconstruction; to improved means for causing the rotation of the circularseries of buckets by the progressive movement of the machine; to meansfor preparing the ground in advance of a plow; to means for causing lthe plow to deliver upon the buckets, and to means for directing theexcavated dirt elev vated by the buckets to such a distance from theexcavator as may be found advisable, and also to means for closing thebuckets, all the devices being carried by and forming parts of theexcavator as a whole.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of thefollowing detailed description, taken in connection.. with of thisspecification, with the further understanding that while the drawingsshow a practical embodiment of the invention the latter is not confinedto any strict conformity with the showing of the drawings, but may bechanged and modified so long as such changes and modifications mark nomaterial departure from the salient features of the invention.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a plan view of the improved machine. Fig. 2is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a section on the line3-3 of Fig. 1, with parts omitted. Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of thedischarge scoop. Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4. Fig. 6is a detail side elevation of a clod crusher attachment. Fig. 7 is anend elevation thereof with a portion of the supporting frame of themachine in cross section. Fig. 3 is a detail plan view of a Aportionofthe machine carrying the plow. Fig. 9 is a side elevation of thestructure shown in Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is a detail sectional view of apartof the frame adjust ing device. v p

The machine is provided with a main longitudinal beam 1, a reach 2spaced from and parallel with the beam l, and end bars 3, 4,respectively, the end bars being secured by clips 5 or by other suitabledevices to the ends of the reach, while the end bars are each connectedto the beam 1 by straps 6 and a plate 7 hinged together as indicated at8,

the plate 7 being firmly united to the beam 1. In the particularstructure shown and considering the end bars 3 and 4 as horizontal, thebeam 1 is more elevated than the corresponding end of the end bars andthe reach 2 is below'the corresponding ends of the end bars. The purposeof hinging the end bars 3 and 4 to the main beamv 1 is to permit thatside of the frame where the reach 2 is located being tilted with respectto "the beam 1, so that the reachside of the loo a, sprocket chain 19.

wheel 11, these different wheels being arranged for certain adjustmentsto be described.

Each plate 7 is extended above the beam 1 and there has journaled in itone end of a rod 12, the other end 13 of which is screwthreaded andextends through a nut 14 in a shoulder 15 secured to the respective endbeam 2 or 3, this last structure being best shown in Fig. 10.

Adjacent to the plate 7 each rod 12 carries a sprocket wheel 16 held inplace by a set screw 17, while the end of the rod is projected throughthe corresponding portion of the plate 7 and is there held as shown at18 or otherwise formed so that while the rod may turn in the plate 17 asa bearing, it will not move lengthwise thereof. The two sprocket wheels16 are connected by a One of the rods 12 may be continued beyond thehead 18 and provided with a crank handle 20, by means of which the tworods may be turned simultaneously to screw them into or out of the nut14, thus decreasing or increasing the etfective length of the rods, andso changing the angular relation of the beam 1 and the end beams 3 andparts carried thereby about the hinges 8. rlhischange of angularrelation may very readily be performed, While the machine is inoperation.

The wheel 9 is mounted upon an angle extension 21 of an arbor 22, theangle of the extension to the arbor being somewhat greater than ninetydegrees, so that with the arbor upright the wheel 9 is tilted, and itsupper edge is toward the reach 2` The arbor 22 is slidably and rotatablysupported in a bearing block 23 bolted or otherwise secured to the beam1 and the arbor 22 eX- tends above the bearing 23 and the beam 1 and atthe upper end carries an arm 24. rlhe bearing 23 is on the reach side ofthe beam 1, while the arm 24 extends in a direction away from the reach2 or in a direction away from the angle extension 21. Rising from thebeam 1 at the front end thereof is a link 25 pivoted at the lower end tothe beam and at the upper end pivotally connected to one end of anadjusting lever 26. rlhe point of connection between the lever 26 andlink 25 may be varied by providing a series of holes 27 in the link bymeans of which the lever may be connected to it at dierent points. Thelever 26 has a swivel connection 28 with the arm 24 close to the arbor22, while the other end of the lever, which latter may eX- tendrearwardly for an appropriate distance, is movable along an adjustingrack segment 29 with which it may be held in engagement by a thumb latch30.

The wheel 10 is mounted on an arbor 31 like the arbor 22, but instead ofthis arbor being mounted on the inner face of the beam 1 it is mountednear the rear end thereof at a point intermediate of the beam in asuitable bearing 32 and at the upper end the arbor carries an arm 33like the arm 24 eX- cept that it projects toward the reach 2 or in thesame general direction as the wheel carrying spindle at the lower end ofthe arbor, this spindle being indicated at 34 and has the same generalangular relation to the arbor 31 as does the angular extension orspindle 21 with respect to the arbor 22. At the rear end of the beam 1there is provided a link 35 like the link 25 and this link is pivoted tothe rear end of the beam at the lower end and at the upper end ispivotally connected to one end of a lever 36, the link being providedwith adjusting perforations 37 like the link 25. Moreover, the lever 3Ghas a swivel connection 38 with the arm 31 and this lever projectsforwardly in operative relation to a rack segment 39 with which it maybe engaged in different positions of adjustment by a thumb latch 40.

rlhe outer end of the arm 24 is connected by a rod 41 with an adjustinghand lever 42 rising from a bar 43 to which it is pivoted, and alsoprovided with a thumb latch structure 44 in operative relation to a racksegment 45 carried by the bar o. rlhe outer end of the arm 33 isconnected by a rod 45 to an adjusting lever 47 mounted on a bar 48provided with a thumb latch structure 49 in operative relation to a racksegment 50 also mounted on the bar 48. rThe two bars 43 and 48 arecarried by clips 51, 52, respectively, fast to the beam 1 about midwayof its length so as to slide lengthwise of the beam 1, and these barsmay, if desired, be coupled together by a hoek 53, so that on theapplication of a suitable force the bars 43 and 48 may be movedsimultaneously, or the bar 43 be moved alone lengthwise of the beam 1.,and this movement will cause corresponding movements of the arms 24, or24 and 33 to rotate the arbor 22 or the two arbors 22 and 31, and whenthe two arbors are moved simultaneously they rotate in oppositedirections. `When the bar 43 is moved alone then` the hook 53 may beengaged in an eye 53EL fast to the beam 1, thus holding the bar 48firmly against movement.

1t appropriately spaced points two brace rods 54 are connected to thefront beam 3, and these rods extend forwardly and one toward the other7and are at their front ends connected to a block or support 55 in whichf1 is pivoted a bar 56 extending forwardly for attachment to power andrearwardly to the end beam 3 where the bar is narrowed, as shown at 57to engage in notches 58 in a rack plate 59. The adjustment of the bar 56provides a means for ready equalization of the draft.

Pivoted to the front end of the bar 56 is an angle lever 60 to which thedraft is directly connected, and this lever is connected by a link 61 tooneend ofa bar 62 having the said end formed as shown at 63 to slide ina stirrup 64. The other end of the bar 62 is carried to and is pivotallyconnected to the bar 43. The arrangement is such that when the draftlever 60 is in an intermediate position the wheels 9 and 10 are parallelwith the beam 1, but should the lever 60 be moved in its pivot supportto one side or the other of the center line, then the angle lever 60causes a longitudinal movement of the link 61 and rod 62 which iscommunicated to the bar 43 and if the bars 43 and 48 be connected, thenthis movement is further communicated by way of the levers 42 and 47 tothe respective links 41 and 46 and by the latter to the arms 24 and 33,thus oppositely rotating the arbors 22 and 31 to adjust the wheels 9 and10 to travel in a curved path, the center of which is to one side or theother of the beam 1 in accordance with the adjustment of the draft. Theconnections between the levers 26 and 36 and the respective arms 24 and33 are sufliciently loose to permit of the movements of said arms inaccordance with the adjustment of the draft and the latches on thelevers 26 and 36 are so arranged as to allow slight end play of thelevers on their respective racks. n A seat 65 may be convenientlymounted upon the bar 56 and a platform 66 may be secured to the beam 1for the support of an operator having to manipulate the levers 26, 36,42 and 47. Furthermore, the end beams 3 and 4 are attached to the beam 1by braces 67, whereby the structure may be made rigid so far as thedraft strains are concerned.

Erected on the reach 2 about midway of its length is a post 68 set at anincline to-v ward the beam 1. The upper end of this post may be bracedto the connected ends of the reach and end bars by stay rods 69 and theinclination of the post may be varied by a lever 7 0 having one endconnected to the post near the upper end thereof and the other endreaching to the beam 1' which it overhangs, and there movable inoperative relation to an upright rack bar 71 for holding the lever inadjusted positions.

Mounted on the post 68 is an elongated sleeve 72 from which spread arms73 with a downward inclination to a rim 74, each arm being connected tothe sleeve 72 at a so requiring no particular description-herev in. Theouter ends of the arms 73 are reduced in diameter and extended. radiallyoutward, as indicated at 76, and attheir outer ends are connected to andcarry a rim l 77 substantially parallel with the rim 74, the two rims 74and 77 rising from the eX- tensions 76. Moreover lugs 78 are carriedbythe rim 77 or extensions 76 or both, being 79 are substantiallysegmental, since the inner rim 74 may be polygonal and the outer rim 77may be circular. The arrangement of the buckets is such that in therotation of the spider in a manner to be described the endplates orpartitions 8O are' uppermost on the rising run. The buckets are held inthe closed position by latch fingers 82 ar.- ranged to engage betweenlugs 82a on the inner rim 74. The buckets are released at the propertime by a roller 82b on the end of a rod 82c fast to the axial supportof the bucket carrier. In order to close the buckets a roller 82d isprovided in the outer end of a rod 82?, while a curved strip 82t on thesame rod urges the bucket toward the `closed position asit approachesthe roller 82d. The

opening and closing devices just described may be, and as `shownaresimilar to corresponding parts shown and described in the aforesaidLetters Patent. However, it may at times transpire that the buckets donot become positively latched, wherefore there is mounted on the reach arod 0r bar 83 in the path of the descending run of the buckets shouldany'of these buckets be in the open position and so arranged that thebuckets will become positively closed by the auxy iliary closing device83 if needed.

Mounted on the inclined post 68 is an arm 84 under-riding the rotaryelevator and eX- tending over the wheel 11 toward the highest point oftravel of the rotary elevator. The arm 84 may be tubular, Aand at theouter end vreceives the stem 85 of a T bracket 86 having oppositelyextended members projecting through eyes 87 on the under face of a chute88, which latter may be in the form i of a plate with upturned ends.This chute is so located as to underride the upper run of the bucketswhere they are released for dumping to Vreceive the earth gravitatingfrom the buckets and the chute is controlled by a chain 89 fast at oneend to the chute and at the other end adjustably secured to the stem 85,so that the chute is lset at an incline directing dirt deposited upon itin a direction away `from the reach 2. The degree of throw of the dirtfrom the chute may be regulated by tilting the chute more or less asneeded. By providing the outerl end of the arm 84 with a clip 90 thestem 85 mav be adjusted lengthwise of the arm to regulate the positionof the chute with relation to the dumping position of the buckets.

At about midway of the length of the beam 1 adjacent which point theinclined rotatable series of buckets engages the ground, there isdepending from the beam a yoke 91 having an offset intermediateconnecting member 92 in underriding relation to the beam, while the legsof this yoke may be bolted or otherwise secured to the beam. Journaledon the offset portion 92 of the yoke is a disk plow 93 which may betaken as indicative of any suitable means for engaging the ground anddirecting it into the buckets as they pass adjacent to the plow, and inthis respect the structure of the present invention is similar to thatdisclosed in the aforesaid Letters Patent. The braces 67 may beconnected to the yoke 91 by brackets 91- to which the braces arepivotally connected as indicated at 95, thus permitting the adjustmentsof the end beams-3 and 4 and main beam 1 with respect one to the other.

Trailing behind the inner edge of the plow is a plate or share 96, atthe lower end of a suitably bent bar 97 overhanging the plow 98 andcarried forward beyond the front end of the yoke 91 where this bar isbent, as indicated at 98, and is mounted in spaced brackets 99. rlheplate or share 96 is set at an angle to the line of travel of themachine in a manner to overhang the upper edge of the lower run of theseries of buckets to thereby direct dirt from the plow into saidbuckets.

Under certain conditions the plow will lift into the buckets clods ofdirt too large to pass through the opening between the buckets when thelatter dump. To overcome this ditliculty there is mounted on the beam 1at an appropriate distance in front of the plow a slidable bar 100 heldto the beam by overhanging guide strips 101. This bar 100 is upright andat the upper side of the beam 1 has a hand lever 102 fast thereto at anintermediate point of the hand lever, and one end of the hand lever isconnected by a link 103 to one of the guides 101 while rising from theother guide 101 is a rack bar 104 in posit-ion to be engaged by a thumblatch 105 on the adjusting lever 10Q. The lower end of the bar 100 belowthe beam 1 is formed into a yoke 106 in which is journaled a rotarycutter 107 having an appropriate number of cutting blades 108outstanding therefrom. rlhis cutter 107 is located in front of the plowso as to attack the ground and cut the sod--r into sufficiently smallpieces before reaching the plow to prevent clogging of the buckets.

lWith a machine constructed as described, or with the main beam, endbeams or bars and reach made of structural steel, it may be assumed thatthe ditcher is being drawn along by horses or other suitable means withthe lower run `of the rotatable circular series of buckets engaging theground, which latter may be assumed to be level, and the parts are soadjusted that the projections or lugs 7S will enter the groundsufficiently to impart rotative movement of the series of buckets as themachine progresses. The wheels 9 and 10 are adjusted to cause the properengagement of the rotatable series of buckets with the ground, and theplow is so related to the rotatable series of buckets that when thelatter are in engagement with the ground lthe plow enters the groundsufficient-ly to lift dirt therefrom and leave av furrow caused by theexcavation of the dirt and its deposition in the buckets, thisdeposition of the dirt taking place continuously as the vehicle advancesand the series of buckets being rotated continuously by the advance ofthe vehicle. Furthermore, the cutter 107 is suitably adjusted to dividethe sod into small pieces in advance of the plow.

As the dirt is deposited in the buckets and the filled buckets move awayfrom the receiving point, they are continuously elevated until theyreach a point diametrically opposite from the receiving point, and therethey are at the highest point of travel, whereupon the buckets aretripped in a manner shown and described in the aforesaid letters patentor in any other suitable manner, and that end of each bucket having theend plate 80 is elevated so that the contents of the bucket readilyescape by grav ity, and since there are no fixed partitions between thebuckets the capacity of the conveyer is correspondingly increased andthe size of the discharge openings caused by the tilting of the bucketsis enlarged. r1`he gravitating earth from the tilted buckets strikesupon the deliector chute 88 and is thereby directed farther away fromthe machine than would be the case were the chute absent and may depositthe dirt into a wagon. On the lowering run of the buckets they areclosed by any suitable mechanism such as shown and described in theaforesaid letters patent, but should it transpire that a bucket is notproperly closed,the positive closure of the bucket is assured by theauxiliary member 83,thus preventing the buckets catching in the groundon the down run.

If the ditch or the grading is not in a straight path then the lever 60shifts to one side or the other of the center line of draft, so that thepull of the machine isl no longer directly longitudinal thereof, buttends to move the machine in a curved path and this is facilitated bythe wheels 9 and 10, or the wheel 9 alone, one or both of which areturned correspondingly to the shifting of the angle extension of thelever 60, acting through the link 61 and rod 62 upon the bar 43 and byway of the'latter through the link 41 to the arm 24 and spindle 22, andif the bar 48 is connected to the bar 43 then the wheel 10 is turned toan appropriate angle to the center line of the machine to follow thecurved path of the machine. Both wheels 9 and 10 are furrow wheels andmay be shifted automatically or independently as may be desired. Both ofthese wheels may likewise be adjusted with respect to the beam 1 so thatthe latter may be depressed or elevated to cause the engagement of theplow and buckets with the ground being acted upon, or these parts may belifted sufficiently to render them inactive as when the machine is beingtransported from place to place.

When the machine is used for producing ditches the ditch is deepened bypassing over the same path a suitable number of times, and then thewheels 9 and 10 are lower than the wheel 11, so that the whole machineis tilted correspondingly and in the absence of suitable provision forcompensating the tilting, those parts carried by the beam 1 would belikewise tilted. Therefore, as the ditch is deepened the threaded rods12 may be turned in a manner to screw them-through the nuts 14 toshorten their effective length, wherefore the beam 1 is rocked on thehinges 8 toward the beams 8 and 4, so that the angular relation of theseparts is changed in a manner to maintain the parts carried by the beam 1upright even though the wheels 9 and 10 be running in a deepeningfurrow, and the wheel 11 be running upon a relatively elevated portionof the surface. running on ground which is not level it in be adjustedso that the effect of want of level is overcome, thisadjustment beingbrought about by a proper manipulation of the rods 12.

What is claimed is 1. In an excavating machine, an inclined rotatablemember having an outer circumferential wall consisting of an upstandingrim, lugs on and in depending relation thereto, an inner wall orupstanding rim spaced from the outer rim, arms carrying the inner rimand provided with reduced extensions carrying the outer rim and spacingthe latter from the inner rim, and buckets between the rims and hingedlymounted directly on the reduced extensions of the arms.

2. In an excavating machine, an inclined rotatable member having innerand outer walls spaced apart, arms carrying the inner wall and providedwith reduced extensions to the outer wall at the lower margins of thewalls, said reduced extensions spacing the inner and outer walls apartand constituting connecting devices therebetween, and a series ofbuckets hinged'to the reduced exten- Again, when the machine is sions ofthe arms between the walls and each comprising a bottom member and asingle end member in turn constituting a division wall between thebucket carrying it and the next adjacent bucket, the hinge connectionbetween the bucket and the reduced extension of the arm carrying itbeing located intermediate of said bottom member.

3. In an excavating machine, an inclined rotatable member having innerand outer walls spaced apart with connecting. devices between the lowermargins of the walls, said connecting devicesvbeing spacedcircumferentially, and a series of buckets comprising bottom membersintermediately hinged to the connecting devices, and a single end memberfor each bottom member constituting division walls between the bucketsmovable with the bottom members.

4. In an excavating machine, an inclined rotatable series of dirtreceiving buckets or receptacles each comprising a bottom member and oneend member, `each end member carried by the bottom memberv,constituting` an end member for the next preceding bucket.

5. In an excavating machine, an inclined rotatable series of dirtreceiving buckets or receptacles with one edge in position to engage theground and provided with an outer upstanding rim,a plow in operativerelation to the series of buckets where engaging the ground, andadeflector plate in trailing relation to the plow and also inclined tothe line of travel and elevated to a height to defleet dirt lifted byvthe'plow into the buckets over the rim of the series `of buckets, saidplate being provided with a yieldable support separate from the plow toconform to variations in the relative :up and down movements of the plowandthe series of buckets. y

6. In an excavating machine, an inclined rotatable seriesfof dirtreceiving buckets or receptacles with one edge in position to engage theground and provided with an outer -upstanding rim, a plow inoperativerelation to the series of buckets where'engaging the ground, and adeilector plate in trailing relation to the plow and alsoinclined to theline of travel and elevated to a height to deflect ydirt lifted by theplow into the buckets over the rim of the series of buckets, said platebeing provided with a yieldable support separate from the plow toconform to variations in the relative up and down movementsv of the plowand the series of buckets, and said yieldable support being located inoverriding relation to the plow.

7. In an excavating machine, an inclined rotatable series of dirtreceiving buckets or receptacles with an outer upstanding rim inposition to engage the ground, a plow mechanism in opera-tiverela-tion'tol the series ofv buckets engaging the ground, and a delectorplate or share in operative relation to the plow and inclined to theline of draft and at an elevation with respect to the ground to directdirt from the plow over the rim of the series of buckets into suchbuckets, and saidplate ror share being yieldably mounted for up and downmovements.

8. ln an excavating machine, a hinged frame having the hinge axislongitudinal of and at the furrow side of the machine, lifting dirtreceiving means mounted on one section of the machine, a plow mounted onthe other section of the machine, and means for varying the angle of onepart of the frame of the machine to the other about the axis of saidhinge connection.

9. In an excavating machine, a frame provided with intermediatelylocated dirt excavating means at the furrow side and with furrow wheelsat opposite ends, a mounting for each wheel movable longitudinally androtatably with respect to the frame, means for adjusting the mountinglongitudinally and other means for adjusting the mounting rotatably,both adjusting means being provided with locking means for holding themin adjusted positions.

10. In a ditching` machine, a frame, furrow wheels mounted at oppositeends of the frame and provided with spindles each rotatable on itslongitudinal axis with reference to the frame and carrying the wheel atan angle to such longitudinal axis, an angle arm on each spindle, anadjusting means for each angle arm, a slidable member carrying theadjusting means, an actuating means for one of the slidable members, andmeans for connecting the other slidable member to the irst-namedslidable member for causing simultaneous movement thereof.

11. lln a ditching machine, a frame, furrow wheels mounted at oppositeends of the frame and provided with spindles each rotatable on itslongitudinal axis with reference to the frame and carrying the wheel atan angle to such longitudinal axis, an angle arm on each spindle, anadjusting means for each angle arm, a slidable member carrying adjustingmeans, an actuating means for one of the slidable members, and means forconnecting the other slidable member to the first named slidable memberfor causing simultaneous. movement thereof, the connecting means beingconstructed for disconnection from the other slidable member and theframe being provided with means for receiving the -connecting means whendisconnected from the other slidable member.

12. In an excavating machine, a furrow wheel, a relatively uprightmember carrying the furrow wheel and mounted for both rotative andlongitudinal movements, the upright member being provided with alaterally projecting arm at the end remote from the furrow wheel, anadjusting lever for causing longitudinal movements of the uprightmember, and an adjustable connection with the arm for causing rotativemovements of the supporting member of thev furrow wheel.

13. In an excavating machine, a furrow wheel, a relatively uprightmember carrying the furrow wheel and mounted for both rotative andlongitudinal movements, the upright member being provided with alaterally projecting arm at the end remote from the furrow wheel, anadjusting lever for causing longitudinal movements of the uprightmember, and an adjustable connection with the arm for causing rotativemovements of the supporting member of the furrow wheel, the last namedadjusting means having a slidable support for causing rotative movementsof the upright member carrying the furrow wheel independently of thefirst named adjusting means therefor.

14. In an excavating machine, a frame composed of a main beam, a reachin parallel relation thereto and end beams each fast at one end to thereach and at the other end having a hinge connection with the main beam,threaded adjusting rods carried by the main beam, threaded receptaclesfor the rods carried by the end beams, and connections between. the rodsfor rotating them simultaneously to adjust the angular relation of theportion of the frame composed of the end beams and reach to the mainbeam.

15. An excavating machine provided with a main frame composed of alongitudinal beam, a reach in parallel relation thereto, and end beamseach connected at one end to the reach end at the other end having ahinge connection with t-he main beam, an inclined rotatable series ofbuckets carried by the portion of the frame composed of the reach andend beams, a supporting wheel on the same part of the frame carrying therotatable series of buckets, furrow wheels carried by the main beam, andadjusting connections between the main beam and the end beams andconnected for simultaneous movement to adjust the angular relation ofthe end beams and main beam.

16. An excavating machine provided with a main frame composed of alongitudinal beam, a reach in parallel relation thereto, and end beamseach connected at one end to the reach and at the other end having ahinge connection with the main beam, an inclined rotatable series ofbuckets carried by the portion of the frame composed of the reach andend beams, a supporting wheel on the same part of the frame carrying therotatable series of buckets, furrow wheels carried by the main beam, andadjusting connections between the main beam and the end beams andconnected for simultaneous movement to adjust the angular relation ofthe end beams and main ist beam, said adjusting connections comprisingscrew rods having journal supports on the main beam, nuts on the endbeams traversed by the threaded rods, and connections between thethreaded rods for rotating them simultaneously in either direction.

17. In a ditching machine, an inclined rotatable series of dirtreceptacles or buckets, an inclined axial support for said series ofbuckets, an arm carried by the aXial support and projecting therefrom inunderriding relation to the buckets to the discharge point of thelatter, a chute, a support for the chute carried by and adjustablelongitudinally along the arm at the outer end of the latter, the chutebeing hingedly connected to its longitudinally adjustable support, andholding means for the chute adjustable to vary its inclination.

18. In a ditching machine provided with an inclined rotatable series ofdumping buckets and means tor opening and closing the buckets, asupplemental bucket closing device located in operative relation to thedescending run of the series.

19. In a ditching machine provided With an inclined rotatable series ofdumping buckets and means for opening and closing said buckets, asupplementalv closing device located in operative relation to thedescending run of the series and comprising a rod or bar on a relativelyiXed portion of the machine in underriding relation to the descendingrun of the buckets.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have heretoafflxed my signature in the presence of tWo Witnesses.

Witnesses HARRY OsBoRN, RICHARD BEEGHER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

l Washington, I). G.

